Nikki Onchengco is currently an undergraduate violinist pursuing a Bachelor of Music Performance degree through the College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Nikki was born in the Philippines but raised in Las Vegas, Nevada from the age of 1. Her musical journey for strings began at 10 years old, primarily learning how to play the violin. She made her way to the esteemed Las Vegas Academy of the Arts for high school and majored in orchestra, providing her experience in all forms of performing, including solo recitals and chamber music settings. She also has studied the violin with reputable music instructors such as Karl Reinarz during high school, and Professor Wei-Wei Le at UNLV. At the academy, she took piano classes under accomplished Jorge Machain along with separate private lessons she had received over several years. During her time at UNLV, she has had the opportunity to enhance her piano skills by studying with acclaimed Dr. Valeria Ore. Nikki further expanded her musical knowledge and learned the viola as a secondary instrument during her middle school years, participating in several chamber music performances as a violist. Her versatility and years of education as a violist qualified her to compete in the All-State Command Finals along with her high school string quartet.
Through fierce passion and dedication, Nikki has had the opportunity to gain diverse instrumental experience by playing with prestigious orchestral groups. These groups include the CCSD Honor Orchestra, All-State Orchestra, and Young Artists Orchestra. She has had the privilege to collaborate with esteemed public figures such as Noybel Gorgoy, Eric Whitacre, Daniel Emmet, Clint Holmes, Daniel Hass, and Christian Shelton. She has had extensive experience playing at renowned venues in Las Vegas, Nevada, such as The Smith Center and Artemus Ham Hall. Nikki has also been able to travel outside of the state with her high school orchestra to perform in McCormick Place for The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Festival in Chicago, Illinois, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.
While classically trained, Nikki has been able to explore other musical genres and expand her musical repertoire from these opportunities such as jazz, pop, musical theatre, and opera. Some of her time is spent performing with The KPM Collective, a local Las Vegas group of undergraduate musicians who come from diverse backgrounds and are exploring all sorts of musical genres to share the gift of music with the world. Through patience, practice, and dedication, she believes that any student can thrive in a healthy relationship with their art if they have the proper encouragement and guidance. Nikki prioritizes her students’ interests, but also the proper technique needed to help them become comfortable with their respective instruments. Her passion for music is forever growing, right alongside the development of her teaching and the determination to be a positive influence in young artist’s lives.
